Women in Bhopal participated in a car rally with an aim to create awareness about educating the girl child and empowering women.
Women’s’ Car Rally, 2013 was hosted by the Greenwood Club and the Association of Convent of Ex-Students (ACES) on Sunday. The rally was flagged off by Bhopal Mayor Krishna Gaur.
This year, the event enters its sixth year and its theme was “educate girl child”. Cars participating in the rally had to drive within a radius of 20 km of the city spreading the awareness about the cause. Organisers said that women should be independent and the event symbolised that women can drive.
“The most important thing is that a woman’s independence and confidence is boosted when she sits in car. Man can help women in times of need but a woman should also have enough potential to defend herself. So we encourage women to drive which symbolises that women can also drive. Many girls do come out and drive. And this year this is also our message that ‘drive for women safety and respect,” said president of Association of convent ex-students (ACES), Kiran Awasthi.
Three cash prizes worth Rs25,000, Rs1, 000 dollars and Rs10,000 were announced for the winners. However, the prize money would be utilised for the cause of educating the girl child.
Women drove and participated in the rally to fight for the cause of their fellow sisters. A participant said that the amount generated from the event would be funded for the education of impoverished girls.
“The message that we want to give through this rally is for women education and the entire amount paid by the participants in this rally will be utilised for the education of girls and their welfare,” said Shazia, a participant in the rally.
There were navigators installed in the cars and the rally was judged on the basis of distance travelled by the participating cars. A total of 75 cars were a part of Women’s rally, 2013 and drove around the city spreading the message of empowerment of women.
The organisers hailed the success of the rally as last year there were only sixty participants as compared to this year.
In the wake of the surge in the crime against women and the gang-rape of the 23-year-old physiotherapist student in Delhi which sparked nationwide protests and outrage, events like this were hosted in different parts of India in an attempt to change the present scenario and ensure steps are taken for the welfare and protection of women.